How Buying Good Tools Ultimately Saves You Money

If you're new to jewellery making or even if you have been creating for a while, it can be tempting to reach for the cheapest tools on the shelf. Well, it’s just a pair of pliers and a saw frame, right? Well, here’s the reality: when you invest in quality jewellery tools from the start, you actually save money, time and headaches in the long run.

So now let’s discuss why quality really matters when it comes to your bench tools.

1. Poor quality tools don't last

Budget tools might look okay, but cheap tools fail much quicker than quality tools. Handles loosen, jaws go out of alignment, tips twist or flex, and blades fall out. Ultimately, when that happens, you are forced to replace them, again and again. In the end, you spend more on the replacements than you would on one quality tool. 

A good pair of pliers or tweezers may cost more from the start, but they keep their shape, hold onto your material better, and stay useful for years. You get a better return on your initial investment. 

2. Better tools mean better results

Quality tools are made to perform. With quality tools, you get cleaner cuts, more accurate shaping, and you can solder more precisely. This adds to the quality and aesthetic of your finished jewellery but also reduces the changes of mistakes or wasted materials, especially when working with silver, gold or other precious metals.

When you use better tools like sharper saw blades, stronger mandrels, or more stable soldering equipment, you are going to spend far more time creating pieces of work that you will be proud of than fixing mistakes.

3. Comfort Matters

You may not think about it in the moment, but extended use of poorly made tools can lead to discomfort and even strain and injury. Well-made tools have an ergonomic shape and weight distribution that allow for comfort and strength. You will enjoy your studio time when your tools feel nice.

Tools that feel nice to hold and use, especially if you are spending hours at your bench, will make a difference to your energy and output.

4. You Will Save on Hidden Costs

Cheap tools will:

• Damage your materials (scratched metal, broken stones, uneven joints)
• Take your time to fix problems you could have avoided
• Force you to buy two or three things to replace or upgrade your cheap attachments or bought items
• There is a cumulative effect here. A good quality, functional tool will allow you to work faster, eliminate re-dos, and conserve your materials.

5. You Will Gradually Build a Great Toolkit

Buying quality does not mean you need to do it all at once. You can start with a few quality pieces, like a good set of pliers, a high quality hand file, great bench pin and a good quality soldering set-up and build from there. Before you know it, you will have a kit that you trust and enjoy using, without the dead weight of useless cheap tools or broken tools.

As a general rule, we usually suggest you start with one of the tools you will be using often - like a good saw frame, good half-round/flat nose pliersand round nose pliersandor good cross-lock tweezers - and when you feel ready, update the rest or acquire them in a skill based order.

We're passionate about manufacturing and sourcing the best tools. We still test every tool before it makes it onto our website. These tools are also the same tools we have been using in our studio for years. So you know they'll last. 

We know the tools you buy from us have been built to last. When you buy quality, you'll spend less time replacing your items, you won't feel like you are wasting time, and you will create better jewellery.

In summary: Buy once and buy well.

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We stock a range of jewellery tools and equipment for beginners and experienced makers.